A special investigation team (SIT) today arrested the secretary of Jawaharlal Darda Education Society, Kishor Darda, in connection with a case of molestation of girls in kindergarten and primary classes by two teachers here, a day after parents held a violent protest.
Police also booked a woman teacher of the society-run Yavatmal Public School, Tasleem Nasreen in connection with the case.
Darda, also chairman of YPS management committee, was arrested from Nagpur international airport in the wee hours. He was produced before a local court which remanded him in police custody till tomorrow.
"We have arrested Kishor Darda from Sonegaon (airport) of Nagpur and brought him to Yavatmal. We produced him before the court and obtained his police custody till July 5," said Sanjay Deshmukh, head of local Crime Branch.
He said the court has extended by seven days the police custody of main accused teachers, Yash Borundiya and Amol Kshirsagar, who were arrested four days back.
Apart from Bourndiya and Kshirsagar, police have so far arrested school principal Jacob Das and Darda.
Yesterday, at least 40 people, including policemen and media persons, were injured when a protest by some parents in front of Darda's residence against the alleged molestation incident turned violent and police resorted to lathi-charge.
YPS is founded by Congress leader Vijay Darda in 2006.
According to Wadgaon Road police, over 200 parents have lodged complaints in police station today against the teachers and management of YPS on various counts, following an appeal made by Special Divisional Commissioner of Police (Amravati Region) Sanjeevkumar Singhal who is camping in the city since yesterday.
A team led by Education Secretary Nandkumar is also in the city.
When contacted, district collector Sachindra Pratap Singh said he is awaiting a report from the school.
Meanwhile, police today booked around 1500-2000 people, allegedly part of the mob that resorted to violence yesterday, under various sections of IPC for damaging public property.
A bandh against the school management was observed in Arni, Digras and Ghatanji tehsils of the district today. In Ghatanji, the agitators set on fire copies of a Marathi newspaper.
A release from the district collector office has informed that regular classes of YPS would commence tomorrow.
As per the release, Primary Education Officer Suchita Patekar has been appointed as the coordinator of the school by the state government who would monitor day-to-day functioning of the school.
